> whoami
I’m a player-coach IT and Infosec technologist with about 10-years experience leading and operating inside low-ego, high-performing teams. My self-driven learning style, curiosity, and “I bet it can’t be too hard” attitude and early interest in technology naturally saw me into the sector.
I partially credit the scouting program for playing a role in establishing those attitudes and gifting me a solid leadership foundation. I was able to build on that foundation as an esports professional, leading top teams to several championship victories that saw me among the top 40 players in the US. The high-stress, split second decision environment of being paid to play video games at the top level set me up well for handling high-intensity cyber incidents and gave me my first taste of managing world class talent.
Stepping back a bit, my love for competition and building winning solutions began back in school where I competed in robotics tournaments (shoutout Vex) as the lead programmer and driver of many seasons worth of bots. My more humble beginnings in the IT world started with a certification and helping out with the Virginia STAR program, an organization dedicated to getting computers into the hands of those in need of our community. Back then we’d take surplus computers, fix them up, and even host workshops teaching folks how to use the computer before sending them on their way with the entire setup they just learned on. This gave me access to hardware that I could break, repair, and learn the inner workings of. Soon after I began a habitual side-gig of fixing up old machines and flipping them for profit on the 2nd-hand market.
After a quick detour of coaching a states-winning crew boat, I used my background in the salvage market, that fresh certification, and those afformentioned attributes to land a T1 helpdesk role. I’ve been building on those foundations ever since by staying curious and digging into tough problems. Outside of technology you may find me jumping between one of my many hobbies:
- Building and fighting combat robots
- Formula 1
- Working on my cars or fixing something around the house
- Traveling
- Photography
- Biking
- Reading
- Volunteering with the Scouting program
- Listening to tech, history, or business podcasts
- Staying in touch with the outdoors by sailing or the occasional backpacking trip with my crew of fellow Eagle Scouts
- and much more (to the detriment of my wallet!)
Anyway, this site is mainly a place to write some thoughts down, share some projects, experiences, and document my shenanigans.
~Marcus